San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-12-12

/ yOu unt:" asked Mrs. Langley. cOvertly
watching the other, who had started slight.
| ly az the name OF Beaure gard The elder
lady knew perfectly well that her niece
had danced with Captain Beauregard at
the ball.
Yes replied Valerie, not thinking it
necessary to go beyond that particular
evening in the history of her acquaintance
with the Captain. Il did not know you
knew him or his people, aunt Constance.
IL DO not know him intimately; he has
been so much away Lady ElinOr IS my
special friend; but it is IA great pity Max
I was not born the eldest son. II so often
happens that the man who will never in
herit is the superior Of the man who does. "
'Isn't General Beaure2ard like his broth
er, them asked Valerie.
"Npt a bit!-that is, not to compare with
| him lie is gOod-lOokIng, and clever enough
| no BDauregari ever was either plain or
an idiot; but Max Is such strikingly-hand.
| some man, and has suCh brain, As It is,
he llas only his pay ana Il younger sons
| allo wnnce, and Of course Lady Elinur will
have CIdl,lrcn-shc IS not thirty yet-so
Max has no chance Of the estates, aud will
have to marry money!
This last was sad in the most matter-of-
course way. IN Mrs. Langley's code it was
| matter of course She was not only
thorough woman Of the world, but thor
| Oughly worldly. minded woman; and in the
| utteranCe Of what was to her natural
idea, she forgot for the moment that her
/ companion was still a forest flower.
IL shouldn't think he would do that"
said Valerie, impulSively.
Mrs. Langley laughed
My dear young Arcadian, Max Beaure,
| gard is man OF the world. Do you mag
inc, because he looks like knight of old
in modern dress, he is as romantic as those
| gentry are supposed to be-"
NO it isn't that returned the girl per
| picked by this tone of badinage, but holding
to her text; "Only he did not seem a man
who would think so much of money"
My dear" said Mrs Langley, quietly,
~ don't know how much you could dis
cover of any mans disposition in an eve.
ming. When you have lived a little in the
world, you will find that there is not much
| romance about Heroes of the battlefield
| can be wonderfully prosaic in ordinary
| life; and Max Bcauregard. for all his eX-
| phDits in Egypt, will probably prove him.
| love"
"Oh, aunt Constance cried the girl,
there must DE some people who are not
| always thinking of worldly advantage
Young girls like you. my dear brought
up as you have been: and bitterly they re.
| pent it in after life when they marry on
nothing year. Older people have more
| wisdom. did not marry for love, but
was very happy"
"a should not be- said Valerie, decided,
ly.
You are seventeen, my dear" replied
her aunt, drily. But" she added, diplO,
matically, Glove and wealth are not neces-
sarily antGgonistic'
Valerie thought of Louis, and was silent,
coloring a little.
Ought she to tell her aunt Of her engage.
ment or did Mrs Langley already know
about it,
She had not mentioned the subject as
yet: and twice Valerie had received letters
from Louis, which her aunt had seen. but
had not asked any question, or displayed
any wish to he told vino her nirce's CORE
spondent was.
Mrs. Langley glanced at Valerie, and.
reading the girls thought, smiled to her
self.
SLIPPING her tea, the wOrIdly-wiSe lady
observed, quietly:
Your uncle told me, Valerie, that you
had engaged yourself to a young friend,
Louis Charteris.'
Valerie flushed deeply, and clasped her
hands nervously together; but her aunt did
not seem to observe her.
She went on
''Of course Mr.. Herbert did not recognize
the engagement as binding-nor can | dc
So
But dor' interPosed the girl, impetu.
ously, her loyalty, rather than her heart,
speaking.
You have very strong will, Valerie
said her aunt, not in the least ruffled, land
| only hope it will not lead you into any
foolish act. have no fear, however, that
il will induce you to marry a man with an
income Of about one hundred and fifty
pounds year. Butt have no desire 10 be
harsh; and if were so, you would either
90 Off at a tangent or be deceitful The
first would be more like you. I dare say
Mr. Charteris has written to you already:
Write to him-hear from him-as often az
you please: but. of course, | cannot active.
ly encourage a suit Of which your uncle.
very rightly, disapprOyes: and which also
tell you plainly-consider foolish"
1t would be difficult to analyze Valerie's
feelings while her aunt spoke; she certain
" could not have analysed them herself
She saw both the justice and the wisdom
of a refusal to recognize an engagement
between two very young and impeCunious
persons: She was too inexperienced to per.
ccivG the deeper wisdom Of an abstentiun
from active opposition.
But this was not all Was Valerie real
" deeply grieved by fiat which was in
effect this: Correspond. if You choose.
with your lover, but cannot ask kim tc
my home" Did she wish to see Louis very
oftcn-that is, if he came a. lover Was
it a relief to find that they could only meet
occasionally? In truth, Valerie did NOT
know.
She answered contusedly, after pause
"But, aunt Constance, had no idea Of
marrying now-not for years to come. l
knew that was impossible, even If uncle
Will had no objection"
"Then, my dear said her aunt, with
real touch of kindness, II will say no more.
don't want to pain you in any way, but
it is best to speak with perfect frankness;
it prevents misunderstanding. | am sure
you will agree with me"
1t was a rather frigid way Of putting it;
but Valerie replied in a low tone:
Yes, aunt Constance"
Then, in an altered manner:
But you don't mean that am never to
see LOuis.'
There was that in the tone, in the flash